*flashback 1*

    Outside, the fresh winter snow covered the ground like a thick blanket. The sky seemed grim and somber, stars blinking throughout the dark expanse. Look once, the wind whistled through the branches of the neighboring trees. Look twice, a lone fox bounded past the mouth of a cave, yipping. Outside, all was at peace, and all was also freezing to death.

    Inside, however, a fire burned low, throwing shadows onto the wall. A mother lay on her mat, her month-old baby clinging to her chest as she fondly watched her toddler son sleepily act out a story. Her scarlet wings were folded, calm and tranquil. The toddler, finished with his epic tale, stumbled to his mother and fell face-first onto her stomach. With a touch of her hand, she guided the child to lay beside her. She wrapped her wings around him and carded her fingers through his red hair, gazing down at his sleeping face. 

    The mother kissed her precious children and whispered her love to them, knowing that it would be the last time.